SICK again- Feedback needed please

[fanofthedog]

Hi all-
I just typed out a whole long thing that somehow didn't post so here I go again in shorter fashion:

I have a 12 year old sulcata that is 100 lbs. Last month he was sick and I took him to a vet in SFV, CA. That vets office was unable to Xray my guy after 3 hours of trying but said they would treat him for a respiratory infection since I showed video of him coughing. I took the needles home and did my best to give his injections correctly every 3 days as directed.

My guy is definitely not feeling well again. Symptoms: irritable, more frequent urates and gritty, watering eyes, runny stool and "leaky" spots from him all over the place, a cough/ or gulping. He looks like when you try to pop your ears on an airplane. His breathing seems heavier than usual. When he settles into his house at night his stomach makes gurgle noises. No nose bubbles. I feel he either has a respiratory infection again or it never cleared OR an obstruction. I gave him a soak in a warm pool today and he took a nice long drink thankfully and he seemed to be perky after that for a while.

Here are my three options to get him help:
1) Sunday 11am at my regular vet for my dog where they say they have a tortoise Dr on staff for Sundays. I dont know this Dr and have no way of knowing if he is ok
2) Monday at 9am at Tom's vet where I am 100% certain I will have the best care and I know they can Xray my guy for sure
3) Call the vet I saw a month ago and get antibiotics so that I can wait for the Monday appointment at the vet I really want to go to

I have videos but don't know how tp post or if its possible. I will try if you think it will help. I just need some advice. What do you all think I should do about getting my guy help? Id really love some feedback. Thanks so much for your time.
Karen

 

[tortdad]

If it were mine is call the vet and get some more drugs, increase his temps about 5-8 degrees, more warm soaks, and go see toms vet on Monday.

 

[fanofthedog]

not sure if this will work: https://fbcdn-video-d-a.akamaihd.ne..._=1426307290_8503d4ae9fff372a83751e7a35ba5d69

 

[sissyofone]

And if it were me I'd keep him warm and as stress free as possible continue the soaks and Get to Tom's vet on Monday. Good Luck to you both.

 

[Jodie]

I would do the same as suggested above. Bump his temps and extra soaks, then wait to go to the good vet. Best of luck and keep us updated.

 

[Zeko]

Go read Tom's care sheet.

Odds are from the sounds of it, he is too cold.

 

[Yvonne G]

I would take him to Tom's vet. Also, put him in water daily - a tube that he can't climb out of.

 

[fanofthedog]

I know its not his temps. Ive already worked on making sure he is in they correct temps with Tom last time Tyler was sick. The crazy thing is that for 8 years of his life he lived in a dog with a heat mat on 3 and that is ALL. Its been very warm here. BUT this did all start when we had a 3-4 day rainstorm a couple of months ago and I do think if it is still that same respiratory bug it came from those days in late Dec. The original video that I shared a month ago was this:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10205562144442387

He had no symptoms but had that loud noise and acted like it was a possible obstruction. Ill go turn his heat up a little bit and make sure he is extra warm and will get out his summer pools which he cant get out of as easily.

Does anyone know if the soaking in baby food veggie juice,etc that you do for babies would be helpful top do with my big guy?
Thanks for the support. This is the worst feeling ever. I hate knowing that he is in such discomfort. He honestly is the happiest guy normally so when he doesnt feel good its a really big deal

Thanks so much all . I really appreciate your time and support

 

[Maggie Cummings]

If he has an upset stomach Mazuri will do a good job of firming him up. Sounds more like an upset tummy to me. Bob spends a lot of time in the rain and has never gotten sick because of it. What is his diet?

 

[fanofthedog]

He eats orchard hay and timothy grass and then the asstd weeds in the yard..dandelions and mallow and clover,etc. I was thinking the rain thing only cuz it never gets cold here in SoCal but those 3 nights it was so I thought maybe the cold wet rain may have affected him. Poor guy. He's sleeping well right now I just checked again.

 

[fanofthedog]

Update: today his poop is still runny but he did urinate with much better looking urates so his big drink yesterday was helpful. I took Maggies advice and fed Mazuri to him today and he ate it right up. His energy is almost normal but to me he does seem winded. I know he is still ill but I feel much more comfortable waiting to see Tom's vet Monday 9am. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[fanofthedog]

Update: Took Tyler to Tom's vet. Tom is a celebrity there so I was treated like I was Hollywood's A-List. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Tyler. He had X-rays which took the Dr less than 10 minutes (whereas the Dr in Encino tried for more than 3 hours and gave up) Everyone at this Dr awesome was nice. They even have a LIVE hummingbird flying around. Anyways Dr took some blood to make totally sure but he doesnt see anything of worry with Tyler. What the guess is now is that Tyler has been waking up earlier than usual and eating GRAPEFRUIT leaves from the tree. Its been extra windy in SoCal and Dr says those leaves are toxic and also that the leaves themselves dont go down so smoothly so that may be why I think I hear coughing noises. Tyler may just be clearing his throat. So- I feel great that my guy is fine and I had a successful vet appointment after so many tries. Thanks so much and thanks to Tom if you get to see this.

 

[tortdad]

That's good news

 

[newCH]

Very good. Glad he will be okay. Sounds like an awesome vet !